Egg and fruit carrier



J. J. MQINTIRE. EGG AND FRUIT CARRIER.

. No. 251,617. Patented Dec. 27,1881.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN J. MGINTIRE, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

we AND.FRUlT CARRIER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 251,617, dated December 27, 1881.

Application filed October 18, 1881.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN J. MOINTIRE, of Oakland, county of Alameda, State of California-,have invented an Improved Egg and Fruit Carrier; and I do hereby declare the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention relates to certain improvem cuts in cases for transporting eggs, fruit, or other similar articles; audit consists in a novelmeth- 0d of cutting, uniting, and locking the strips which form the compartments that contain and separate the eggs, and that are placed in tiers one above the other in suitable cases, each tier having a loose bottom or diaphragm interposed between it and the next set of compartments.

Many forms of compartment-cases have been constructed, most of which have one or both of the sets of transverse strips notched upon the edges, and as these strips are usually' made of pasteboard, for economy, these out edges are easily folded down or destroyed by handling and the breaking of eggs, so as to soon render them useless.

My invention contemplates the use of two sets of strips,thoserunningin one direction havin g slots extending transversely across the center, but not extending to the edges. The other set of strips are sufficie'ntly wide to just pass through and fill these slots, and they have small central slots just where they meet the other set of strips, through which a narrow strip of material passes alternately to one side and the other of the first-mentionedstri ps, so as to form a lock. 7

Referring to the accompanying drawings for a more complete explanation of my invention, Figure l is a perspective View of my invention. Fig. 2 is a top view, showing the position of the locking-strips. Figs. 3 and 4 are views of the separated strips.

A A are a series of strips, which may be made of thin veneers of wood, of metal, or of pasteboard or other suitable material. These strips are made of the width required for the depth of the compartments. Each strip has slots B made atintervals to receive other strips, 0, which pass through them transversely to form the compartments. The slots B are made (No model.)

slots or holesD are intended to receive the locking-strips E, which are madeof asize and shape to fit the holes, so that between the first two of the strips 0 they will lie upon one side of the strips A. Then they pass through the holes or slots D and extend between the next two of the strips 0 upon the opposite side of the strips A, and so on through the set of compartments, passing alternately from one side to the other of the strips A at their points of junction with the strips 0, in the manner of weaving, as shown in Fig.2. This forms a per foot lock, holding the parts firmly in place and allowing the sets of compartments to be folded up for transportation when taken out of the case.

All of the strips A are made precisely alike from end to end, and all of strips 0 are also alike from end to end, so that any of them will fit together to form aset ofcompartments; and, if desired, they might be cut or punched with their slots from long strips and afterward cut off to the proper lengths, as there is no necessity to form the ends of the strips in a different manner from the central portion to form a lock. The spaces above the edges of the strips 0 give a perfect ventilation around the contained eggs or other articles, while atthe same time the center, where the eggs most nearly approach each other, is protected by the thickness of the material of which the strips are formed. The edges, not beingin any wa-ycut or notched, will not be easily broken down if the material becomes dampened in any manner.

The compartment-strips are easily made, and may be rapidly put together, and the lock is simple and eflicient.

Having thus described my invention, what I Patent, is

1. In combination with the strips A, having strip D, passed through both strips at their [0 slits to receive the cross-strips O, the narrow locking-strips adapted to pass through the perforations of both the strips A and O and hold such strips inplace.

2. In comhinatiomthe strip A, having slits extending for nearly its Width, the strip 0, with narrow slits at substantially the point Where it intersects with the strips A, and the lockingintersection and extending alternately 011 0pposite sides of the strip A.

In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand.

JOHN J. MOINTIRE.

Witnesses:

ISRAEL LAWION, HENRY A. LEAKE. 

